Our verdict

For one to three people who want crispy food without the fuss, the Ninja AF101 is the pick: 4-in-1 simplicity in a compact 4-quart basket.

Best for best air fryer for crispy food with less oil

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Why we chose it: A 4-quart basket is the sweet spot for one to three people, and the 4-in-1 modes with a 400°F ceiling crisp food using less oil — then the basket goes in the dishwasher. Read the full reasoning →

Ninja Air Fryer, 4 Qt Capacity, 4-in-1 Crisp, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate, AF101

View Ninja Air Fryer, 4 Qt Capacity, 4-in-1 Crisp, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate, AF101 on AmazonYou pay the same either way.

We synthesized thisHow we pickedUpdated Aug 21, 2026Affiliate disclosureIndependent recommendations — never pay-to-play.

Buy this if

You prioritize capacity
You prioritize cooking versatility
You prioritize best suited for
You prioritize main limitation

Skip it if

Skip an air fryer entirely if you mostly cook large roasts or full sheet-pan dinners — a convection oven handles those better. And skip the compact Ninja if you regularly feed four or more; size up to the Philips instead.

Our top pick

Top pick

Ninja Air Fryer, 4 Qt Capacity, 4-in-1 Crisp, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate, AF101

Capacity4 qt
Functions4-in-1 — crisp, roast, reheat, dehydrate
Temperature ceiling400°F
BasketDishwasher-safe

Pros

The simple 4-in-1 set of crisp, roast, reheat, and dehydrate keeps everyday cooking genuinely no-fuss
At 4 quarts it stays compact, so it fits a smaller kitchen counter without hogging it
The dishwasher-safe basket makes cleanup quick, so the fryer actually gets used

Cons

The 4-quart basket is small for a family of four or more, so you will cook in batches
Its 400°F ceiling is lower than fryers that reach 450°F, so the highest-heat recipes stay out of range

View Ninja Air Fryer, 4 Qt Capacity, 4-in-1 Crisp, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate, AF101 on AmazonYou pay the same either way.

Alternatives

Best for single-layer batches

COSORI Pro Gen 2 Air Fryer 5.8QT

Capacity5.8 qt
Basket shapeSquare, single-layer capacity
Presets13 one-touch programs

Pros

Square basket fits more food in a single layer than round baskets of similar volume
13 one-touch presets cover most everyday foods without guesswork

Cons

Larger footprint takes up more counter and cabinet space than the Ninja AF101
Its single-layer basket means larger quantities still cook in batches

View COSORI Pro Gen 2 Air Fryer 5.8QT on AmazonYou pay the same either way.

Best for drying fruit and jerky

Instant Pot 6QT VORTEX Plus Air Fryer, 6-in-1

Capacity6 qt
Functions6-in-1 — air-fry, roast, reheat, bake, broil, dehydrate
ControlsDial-and-button interface

Pros

Broil and dehydrate modes add range beyond the usual air-fry, roast, reheat, and bake set
The dehydrate mode is a real draw if you batch-dry fruit or make jerky

Cons

The dial-and-button interface feels dated next to touchscreen competitors
At 6 quarts, it's a sizable unit that claims real counter space

View Instant Pot 6QT VORTEX Plus Air Fryer, 6-in-1 on AmazonYou pay the same either way.

Best for large households

Philips Premium Airfryer XXL, Fat Removal Technology, 3lb/7qt (HD9650/96)

Capacity7 qt (about 3 lbs of fries)
BasketLargest in this lineup
FeatureFat-removal technology

Pros

The 7-quart basket — the largest in our lineup — cooks a family-sized batch of fries or wings in one go
Fat-removal technology pulls excess fat away from food as it cooks, so results come out less greasy

Cons

That large footprint eats counter and cabinet space a small kitchen can't spare
The single basket cooks in one zone, so you can't run two foods at different temperatures at once

View Philips Premium Airfryer XXL, Fat Removal Technology, 3lb/7qt (HD9650/96) on AmazonYou pay the same either way.

How the picks compare

The picks compared for best air fryer for crispy food with less oil
Attribute	Ninja Air Fryer, 4 Qt Capacity, 4-in-1 Crisp, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate, AF101Best for best air fryer for crispy food with less oil	COSORI Pro Gen 2 Air Fryer 5.8QT	Instant Pot 6QT VORTEX Plus Air Fryer, 6-in-1	Philips Premium Airfryer XXL, Fat Removal Technology, 3lb/7qt (HD9650/96)
Capacity	Ninja Air Fryer, 4 Qt Capacity, 4-in-1 Crisp, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate, AF1014 qt	COSORI Pro Gen 2 Air Fryer 5.8QT5.8 qt	Instant Pot 6QT VORTEX Plus Air Fryer, 6-in-16 qt	Philips Premium Airfryer XXL, Fat Removal Technology, 3lb/7qt (HD9650/96)7 qt (about 3 lbs of fries)
Cooking versatility	Ninja Air Fryer, 4 Qt Capacity, 4-in-1 Crisp, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate, AF1014-in-1 — crisp, roast, reheat, dehydrate	COSORI Pro Gen 2 Air Fryer 5.8QT13 one-touch presets; square single-layer basket	Instant Pot 6QT VORTEX Plus Air Fryer, 6-in-16-in-1 — adds broil and dehydrate	Philips Premium Airfryer XXL, Fat Removal Technology, 3lb/7qt (HD9650/96)Air-frying with fat removal
Best suited for	Ninja Air Fryer, 4 Qt Capacity, 4-in-1 Crisp, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate, AF101Households of one to three	COSORI Pro Gen 2 Air Fryer 5.8QTCooks who want single-layer batches and presets	Instant Pot 6QT VORTEX Plus Air Fryer, 6-in-1Instant Pot households who batch-dry fruit or jerky	Philips Premium Airfryer XXL, Fat Removal Technology, 3lb/7qt (HD9650/96)Larger households cooking family-sized batches
Main limitation	Ninja Air Fryer, 4 Qt Capacity, 4-in-1 Crisp, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate, AF101Small basket for families of four or more	COSORI Pro Gen 2 Air Fryer 5.8QTLarger footprint than the Ninja AF101	Instant Pot 6QT VORTEX Plus Air Fryer, 6-in-1Dated dial-and-button controls	Philips Premium Airfryer XXL, Fat Removal Technology, 3lb/7qt (HD9650/96)Too large for small kitchens or one person

What to look for

Capacity

Basket size decides how many servings you cook per batch — and whether the machine even fits your kitchen.

Cooking versatility

More modes and presets mean less guesswork and more foods you can make in one machine.

Best suited for

The right air fryer matches your household size and the way you cook, not the longest feature list.

Main limitation

Knowing the main constraint up front keeps you from buying the wrong size or feature set.

How we chose

We synthesized this

You want the crunch of fried food without a pot of oil or an hour of the oven heating up the kitchen. That is the job an air fryer does with less oil than deep-frying — so the right one is the model whose basket and controls fit the way you actually cook, not the one with the longest feature list.

We weighed each against four things that change daily use: capacity, cooking versatility, who it suits best, and its main limitation. The Ninja AF101 wins as the everyday pick because its 4-in-1 simplicity and compact 4-quart basket cover one to three people with the least fuss.

The alternatives exist because kitchens differ. The Cosori's square basket fits more in a single layer, the Instant Pot Vortex Plus adds broil and dehydrate for people who batch-dry fruit or jerky, and the Philips XXL scales up to family-sized batches with its fat-removal feature.

Every assessment here is a synthesis of documented specs and established use, not a timed lab test — you can read exactly what that means on our how-we-test page. Whichever you choose, match the basket to your household and your counter space, and you will not go far wrong.

Frequently asked questions

What size air fryer should I buy?

Match the basket to your household. A 4-quart model like the Ninja AF101 suits one to three people, while a 6- to 7-quart model like the Instant Pot or Philips handles family-sized batches. Larger baskets take up more counter and cabinet space.

Do more presets actually help?

Presets automate time and temperature for common foods, which takes the guesswork out if you cook the same things often. If you prefer to set things yourself, a simpler function set like the Ninja's 4-in-1 works just as well.

Does a square basket matter?

A square basket, like the Cosori's, fits more food in a single layer than a round basket of similar volume, so more pieces crisp evenly at once. Round baskets are usually more compact on the counter.